Your source for the latest technology information of interest to community banks across America.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and stay on top of the latest technology trends in Hardware, Software, ATMs, Biometrics, Wireless, Online Banking, Marketing, Security, Internet Access and Call Centers.
Cisco Taps AMD to Power a Hyper-Dense Server for Data Centers, Edge Computing
Cisco announced the C-Series C4200 server, a 2RU box comprised of the C4200 chassis and C125 server nodes that boosts processor-core density 128% using AMD EPYC 7000 CPUs. For dense environments, performance per watt is a key metric. EPYC processors offer the most cores with lower power consumption than other offerings, Cisco said about its reasoning behind using the AMD technology.
Zotac Shows off Mini PCs at Computex 2018
Zotac is known for its mini PCs, and the company came to the recent Computex 2018 show with a system as small as a wallet, a Ryzen 5 mini-PC and more.
~~~
Windows Server 2019 will be available in the second half of the year, and you can preview it via the Insiders program. The OS will add new features to handle hybrid cloud setups and hyperconverged infrastructure. The next version of Windows Server also adds new security features and enhances support for containers and Linux.
~~~
It’s App, Tap and Go at ATMs Thanks to Mastercard and Diebold Nixdorf
The partnership between Mastercard and Diebold Nixdorf is to run trials with two ATM products – Mastercard Cash Pick-Up and Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard. Cash Pick-Up, announced last year, turns the ATM into a disbursement channel even if the beneficiary doesn’t have an account or a debit card. Cardless ATM will allow Mastercard cardholders to take cash out from the nearest participating ATM whether in their home town or while traveling abroad – initiated from the consumers’ mobile banking app.
As Frictionless Payments Struggle for Traction, Consumers Cling to Cash
According to Lost in Transaction: Payment Trends 2018, a report from Paysafe, cash continues to thrive as the most common form of payment. The great majority (87 percent) of consumers said they had used it within the past month to make a purchase. ATM visits were up too — 83 percent had visited one in the last month compared to 75 percent in 2017. However, about half of consumers said they carry less cash than they did a year ago.
~~~
A New Report Delivers a Cold Dose of Reality on ‘Frictionless Payments’
In the US, at least, mobile wallets and contactless transactions in general have been a hard sell, but now research results indicate so-called frictionless payments may themselves hold less attraction for consumers than many had thought. Apps that allow users to set up a payment method and then let transactions unfold in the background (e.g., Lyft and Uber) raise big security and privacy concerns with consumers, according to a five-nation survey of more than 5,000 persons conducted in April by the acquirer Paysafe Group. Fully half of consumers said fear of fraud was holding them back from using such apps, while 52% cited concerns about how their data might be used by other entities.
~~~
Transaction Laundering - Money Laundering Goes Electronic
Electronic money laundering, also known as Transaction Laundering, is the most common, but least enforced, method of money laundering. The principle is simple: an unknown online business uses an approved merchant’s payment credentials to process credit card transactions for unknown products and services. Research has shown that Transaction Laundering for the online sales of products and services reaches over an estimated $200 billion a year in the US alone.
The Open Threat Management Platform essentially acts as both an SIEM and a frontline security appliance. This article offers a review of the Seceon platform.
~~~
The Three Essentials of Marketing: Apps, Branches & CX
The author argues that marketing must move beyond the promotion of basic banking products, and instead focus on the value proposition of the valuable consumer experience at each touchpoint.
~~~
Online Banking/E-Commerce/Website Design
Building Better Online Banking
Consumers are sending a worrisome message: ‘Digital banking is all the same.’ Only half of U.S. consumers are satisfied with online and mobile banking at their primary FI. The latest Javelin Strategy & Research report, Building Better Online Banking, outlines 36 online banking principles that are key to success in crucial aspects of digital banking – ease of use, security empowerment, money movement, financial fitness, consumer service, and account opening.
The Onboarding Imperative in Banking: More Engagement, Greater ROI
The author contends that onboarding is not only the best way to establish a great first impression, but one of the most economical (and impactful) ways to impact satisfaction. He states that FIs that don't have a sophisticated, digital-first onboarding strategy will see sagging satisfaction scores and a balance sheet that suffers.
New Mastercard Service Speeds Adoption of Artificial Intelligence
With the launch of AI Express, Mastercard says that they will help organizations develop a tailored artificial intelligence model that answers real business questions and can be swiftly deployed. The AI Express program was designed to help companies address key business priorities, including: Anti-money laundering, Fraud risk management, Cyber security, Credit risk prediction and Operational efficiencies.
~~~
5 Key Considerations When Selecting a Public Cloud Service
There are many considerations when selecting a public cloud service. Research firm Gartner recommends closely evaluating these 5 areas: 1) Ease of Use; 2) Open Source Friendliness; 3) Cost; 4) Technical Support; and 5) Strong Partner Ecosystem.
Windows Server 2019 Embraces SDN
When Windows Server 2019 is released this fall, the updates will include features that enterprises can use to leverage software-defined networking (SDN). SDN for Windows Server 2019 has a number of components that have attracted the attention of early adopters including security and compliance, disaster recovery and business continuity, and multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud connectivity.
~~~
The Measures Every Contact Center Should Have
Establishing the right measures and objectives is one of the most important responsibilities in leading and managing a call center successfully. This article looks at 7 key categories of measures that should be in place in every contact center.
~~~
